Laboratory dyeing machine



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LABORATORY DYEING MACHINE Filed no. 19. 195s s sheets-sheet s Invehor Harold H orsfall NA* n..

Aitorney United States Patent Otrce 901,@2 Patented Sept. 1, 1959 LABORATORY DYETNG MACHINE Harold Horsfall, Norden, Rochdale, England Application December 19, 1955, Serial No. 554,120

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-170) This invention concerns laboratory dyeing machines, that is to say dyeing machines adapted for the simultaneous dyeing of a pluralityof samples of yarn or the like each in its own sample dye liquor.

The object of the present invention is to provide a laboratory dyeing machine which is cheaper to manufacture and more convenient in use than known laboratory dyeing machines. f

According to the present invention a laboratory dyeing machine includes a vertically reciprocable member, adapted to carry a plurality of yarn supports at spaced intervals therearound, so that, as said member is reciprocated, so may yarn. on. said supports be likewise reciprocated in individual dyebaths.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line I-I of Fig. 3 of a dyeing machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an outside View corresponding to Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2.

Referring rstly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine has a square cabinet 11 of stove enamelled sheet metal whose side measures approximately one foot six inches. The base of the cabinet 11 has suitable rubber feet 12 and a detachable cover 13 is provided for the top.

The cover has twelve two inch diameter circular holes therein, disposed, on a pitch circle of about nine and three-quarters of an inch diameter, about an axis centrally of the cover 13.

To the underside of the cover 13 is securely attached an aluminum tank 14 twelve and a half inches in diameter and nine inches deep coaxial with the series of holes. The centre of the base of the tank is bored to accommodate the lower end 15a of a hollow pillar 15. This end region 15a of the pillar 15 is flanged to t against the inner face of the tank base, a threaded extension 15b passing through the hole in the tank base to receive a nut 16 by which the pillar 15 is secured in position with a sealing effect.

The pillar 15 is a casting, vitreous enamelled, and extends vertically -upwards through the tank to emerge through a further, central, hole in the cover 13. It terminates two and a half inches above the cover 13. The bore of the pillar is one inch in diameter over its upper two thirds, with a self-lubricating bush 17 of three-quarter inch internal diameter let in at each end of this portion, whilst its lower third increases to two inches diameter at the bottom end. The outer surface of the pillar 15 is correspondingly shaped.

The bushes 17 in the pillar support a shaft 18, threequarters of an inch in diameter, the lower end of which is attached to one end of a connecting rod 19 below the lower bush 17. The connecting rod 19 extends into the cabinet space below the tank 14 and its lower end is secured to a crank 20 driven at sixty revolutions per minute from a geared fractional horsepower motor 21 mounted on the tank base. The crank 20 is one inch long so as to give a stroke of two inches to the shaft 18. The upper end of the shaft 18 passes out of the pillar 15 and carries a common head in the form of a disc-like cap 22.

The cap 22, cast from brass, and six inches in diameter, has an annular recess 22a in its underside near its periphery and through the walls of this recess are twelve pairs of aligned holes carrying stainless steel rods 23 of quarter inch diameter and about three inches long. Each rod 23 is a sliding fit in one pair of aligned holes and then lies radially of the cap 22. Within the recess 22a is a spring clip 24 which enables each respective rod 23 to be adjusted manually in the cap 22 but to be retained firmly in the adjusted position.

`On the outer end of each rod 23, which is of reduced diameter, is a rubber `grommet 23a. A stainless steel support 25 is carried by the grommet on each rod. The support 25 may be shaped in any convenient manner for this purpose preferably having a number of circular apertures 25av through which the sample may be threaded. Each support 25 is about eleven inches long and hangs vertically downward in a glass vessel 26 shaped like a test-tube having a close-litting rubber collar 27 by which it is adapted to be supported in a hole in the cover 13. In the particular embodiment being described the glass vessels are one and a half inches in diameter and ten inches long.

The-tank 14 attached to the cover is tted with two arcuate electrical heating elements 28, 29, the first near the bottom, of two kilowatt rating, and the other just above this, of one kilowatt rating. An adjustable thermostat 30 also extends into the tank 14. An insulating jacket 31 is tted round the outside of the tank 14.

The arrangement is completed by the provision of a control panel 32 on the outer surface of the cabinet 11. The panel 32 carries a motor switch 33, separate switches 34, 35 for the two heaters 23, 29, and the thermostat control 36. An indicating light 37 is also provided which is in circuit with the heaters.

Whilst the dyeing machine just described has all the features necessary for successful operation it has been found desirable `to incorporate certain refinements and additional features so that operational eiciency may be improved and so that the use and maintenance may be simplified.

Forinstance, by providing an agitator in the tank, it has been found possible to control the temperature of the water in the tank within closer limits. The preferred agitator consists of an annular -plate 38 suspended in the tank from a pair of depending rods 39 xed to the underside of the cap 22 and passing through the cover 13.

Furthermore a tap 40 is fitted in the base of the tank 14 and extends outwardly almost as far as the plane of the cabinet wall. The wall is apertured adjacent the end of the tap 40 so that a rubber tube may be secured to the latter for emptying purposes. In order to prevent moisture from the tap 40 reaching the electrical Wiring or the motor 21 should the tap 40 drip or inadvertently be left on a suitably shaped guard 41 extends between the base of the tank 14 and the wall of the cabinet 11 just below the tap 40. The guard 41 is arranged so as not to interfere with retraction of the tank 14 from the cabinet 11.

It has also been found desirable to fit handles 42 to at least two opposite sides of the cabinet 11.

In operation the glass dye vessels 26 hang down into the circular tank 14, which is lled with water or other suitable liquid such as glycerine. The vessels are lled with the respective dye liquors and the samples of yarn or the like attached to the supports 25. The water in the tank is first heated to nearly correct temperature by the two kilowatt booster heater 28 and the one kilowatt 3 control heater 29 which are switched on both at once. Then the booster heater 28 is switched off and the thermostat 30, in conjunction with the control heater 29 maintains the water at the desired temperature, which may be preselected by the adjustment of the control 36. As the greater part of the outer surface of the dye vessels 26 is in contact with the water in the tank 14 the temperature of the dye liquor will follow that of the water in the tank 14 very closely. The motor 21 when switched on causes the crank 20 to rotate and the shaft 1S, cap 22, agitator plate 38, and supports 25 with their samples to be reciprocated thus ensuring effective dyeing of the samples. The effect of the agitator plate 38 is to prevent localization of heat and to maintain an even temperature throughout substantially the whole volume of water at any time.

The spring clips 24 in the recess of the cap 22 retain a firm grip on the rods 23, when, for instance, the latter are pushed back to give full access to the dye vessels 26.

The dyeing machine just described has the advantages of cheapness and simplicity of construction; ease of maintenance due largely to accessibility of the various parts; compactness, and operational efhciency.

What I claim is:

1. A laboratory dyeing machine comprising in combination a tank for water, heating means in said tank, a vertical shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft longitudinally, a common head mounted on said shaft above said tank for reciprocation with said shaft, an agitator carried by said common head suspended in said tank, a plurality of depending yarn supports at spaced intervals around said common head and an individual dye-bath suspended in said tank, for each support, into which the support extends for reciprocation therein.

2. A laboratory dyeing machine comprising in combination a tank for water, heating means in said tank, a vertical shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft longitudinally, a common head mounted on said shaft above said tank for reciprocation with said shaft, an agitator carried by said common head suspended in said tank', a plurality of radially adjustable arms in said common head, a yarn support depending from each said arm, and an individual dye-bath for each said support, into which the support extends for reciprocation therein.

3. A laboratory dyeing machine comprising in combination a cabinet, an upper cover for said cabinet, a tank for water attached to the underside of said cover, heating means in said tank, thermostat control means for said heating means, a hollow pillar extending axially through said tank, a shaft reciprocable in bearings in said pillar, a motor in said cabinet, a crank on said motor shaft, a connecting rod between said crank and said shaft for enabling the latter to be vertically reciprocated by said motor, a common head mounted on said shaft above said tank for reciprocation with said shaft, an agitator carried by said common head suspended in said tank, a plurality of depending yarn supports at spaced intervals around said common head, and an individual dyebath, suspended by said cover so as to extend into said tank, for each said support, into which the support extends for reciprocation therein.

4. A laboratory dyeing machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said dyebaths are `of test-tube shape and are supported by said cover.

References Cited in the :Ele of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS 

